Ex_Libris

I think this journal needs a little lightening up, lest it sinks into a permanent void. What's a little uplifting that I can write about?

Perhaps going a little into the 'terrible trio' (as I call them) is in order. Of course this is in reference to Prince Wyngarde, Flame, and Hyperaeon, the best heroes I have had the pleasure of fighting alongside (it's helps fighting with someone enough to get to know them, yes?). Smart, battle-savvy, and humorous all in the same package, times three = several long hours of justice-seeking fun.

Flame - When it comes to a no-nonsense approach to the occupation of superhero, Flame reigns supreme. Decked out in red and gold with long golden hair to match, this is one woman whom I seriously admire for sheer tenacity and ferocity in battle. There's no beating around the bush for this girl; when she intends to fight, she charges forth like a rhino, locks on to her foe like a pit bull, and DOESN'T let go until one of them is dead. It is not uncommon to see Flame jump into the thickest concentration of villians from the onset of the battle, seriously outnumbered and not caring one bit. I have to say that she commands the greatest amount of my attention (healing-wise) in a fight, which she rightly deserves for her unwaivering courage.

HyperAeon -
Hype, as I call him, is our artillery piece, laying forth devastating attacks that can take down even the largest of foes. A silver cross between the Greek messenger Mercury and Atlas himself, he is an imposing sight, and a very capable fighter. One moment, he is knocking the enemy down with a concentrated energy blast from a distance, the next he is right in their faces, sending them flying clear across the street with an thunderous punch. But for all of his might, Hype is also the funniest man I have ever met, always there with a quip or a joke. His favorite icebreaker is to proclaim how much he loves his powers just after sending some poor villian sprawling with them (HYPERPUNCH is his favorite). He truly loves what he does.

Prince Wyngarde -
Rightly so or just self-proclaimed, Wyngarde is something of royalty to me. He has an aura about himself - a sort of quiet authority if you will - that just seems to suit him. It is never said, but having him in the lead just feels right as he is always on the lookout for the rest of us, issuing tactics, instructions, or warnings that get us through the day. Dark blue and black describe his colors of choice, which is fairly ironic considering the damage he is capable of bringing upon any individual that does wrong by him. My favorite power of his is when he summons hurricane force gale winds - one moment, the enemy us charging us, the next... well, THEY'RE NOT!

If these three are representative of what evil is up against (and from what I've seen in all the other heroes I've come across, they are), then evil is going to have a seriously bad day. Things just might be looking up for the citizens of Paragon City.

Yi

When amateur archaeologist Ian Mac Hugh stumbled across the "moongate," his whole world had already been turned upside down.

Only a week earlier, he'd gotten a call from the psychiatric institue where his mother had spent the past 10 years a sad, silent recluse. When he was just a boy, his parents, John and Pamela, had disappeared on a hiking trip and were not seen again until his mother had been found years later, wandering the woods a raving lunatic. She had to be subdued before they could take her to the hospital, and even there she'd put up quite a fight. When all was said and done, she'd knocked out two cops, broken an orderlies nose, and had a doctor in a headlock before the drugs they'd managed to get into her took hold. She hadn't spoken a word since, not even when he'd gone to visit her. And now she never would. The doctor who called to break him the news said she'd died in her sleep, the night nurse having found her laying peacefully in bed with a sealed envelope held in both hands, addressed to her son.

He hadn't known what to make of it... from what the doctors had told him, she had suffered delusions of living in some fantastical realm, but they knew little more than he did. The letter she'd left behind explained it all. The day they'd disappeared, her and John had been hiking through the woods when a shimmering blue portal had appeared directly in front of them. John had been walking backwards, and hadn't noticed it until it was too late, vanishing into the light as Pam cried out and dove after him. They found themselves atop one another on a grassy knoll ringed by stones, in the middle of an ancient forest. As Ian read the letter, his disbelief grew as she told of this "new" world they'd found, a magical realm known as Britannica. They'd tried to return through the "moongate," as she called it, but although they were able to travel through this new realm by navigating the gates, they couldn't find one that would take them back. Over the years, they had come to call this new land home, and made quite a name for themselves as warriors in service to a man named Britannicus. It was a good life, until that fateful day when their Lord's hunting party came under attack, and John fell in his defense. The last view she had of the battle, Britannicus had been surrounded by his enemies, standing alone at their center when her world went black. She awoke with blood crusted across her eyes, her shattered helmet lying a few feet away. She saw John's body, and her Lord's shattered shield nearby, and stumbled off through the woods to seek aid, tears blurring her vision. That was when the ground gave way beneath her, and she slid into a dimly lit cavern, where a new moongate pulsed at the center. Deciding she had no better options, she stumbled through it, only to find herself back... home.

Ian threw down the letter in sadness and disgust. 'She really was crazy..." he thought as he absentmindedly toyed with the small golden pendant that he'd found in the folds of the letter. An ankh of some sort, with some odd runic inscription on the back. He tossed it in the air and caught it, finally, something he could lose himself in. Crumpling up the letter, he tossed it in the wastebasket and went to his bookshelves to see if he could dig up a norse dictionary in one of his old textbooks.

Hours later, he gave up in frustration: none of the runes on the ankh matched anything he had in his texts. Depressed, he put the ankh in his keepsake box and turned his attentions to the preparations for next weeks renaisance festival. He'd be performing in the joust and he didn't have time to mope around over the loss of someone he'd never really known. Besides, it'd do him some good to get his mind off things.

------------------------------------------------------------

When he returned home from the festival the next week, there was a message on his answering machine from Angel, his old high school sweetheart and one of his closest friends. She'd moved out of state a few years ago, but they stayed in touch through emails and phone calls. The message was brief, something about needing his help regarding an antique of some sort she'd found, she'd tell him about it when he called. As it turned out, she'd been something of a news item the week before: she'd been driving home one day, along a stretch of road that cut deep through the woods. Suddenly, a man appeared before her in the road, almost leaping from the trees before she could even react. She slammed on the brakes but it was too late, she felt the sickening lurch and watched the body go flying over the hood before she managed to swerve the car to the side of the road. She saw the prone form on the road behind her in the rearview mirror, and as she ran to him she dialed 911 on her cell phone, alerting the police to the accident. When she reached the body, she didn't know what to do... or even what to make of it. He was dressed in chainmail, with a blue tunic and a leather belt cinched at the waist. His body was twisted almost in half, yet he was still breathing, and his eyes were open. "The King... in danger..." was all he'd managed to cough out before his eyes rolled back, and she was all alone. She knelt there, not knowing what to do, half panicked and half disbelieving. It was then that his necklace, the chain of which had been dangling from his tunic, fell completely out. The small golden ankh caught her eye, and not knowing why, she took it in her hand, lifting it over his head as she heard the sirens in the distance and dropping it in her shirt pocket as she awaited the ambulance.

She hadn't been charged with anything... the cops saw his strange outfit, and her version of the story held up. It had actually made the local news, "Knight felled by Steel Beast," and the reporters made the connection between the unknown "knight" and the local renn festival, although no reporter was able to find anyone who knew the man they described. Police were still investigating, but so far had no leads nor identity for the dead man.

But that wasn't why she'd called. She called because she was hoping Ian, with his background in medieval studies and archaeology, might somehow recognize the ankh. A small golden ankh with a runic inscription around the back.

He was on the next flight.

Things moved almost too fast for them to recall after that. The ankh was an identical match to his mothers. He'd thrown out her letter, so he'd never know what else he might have learned about it, but there was no doubt they came from the same place. Angel took him back to the scene of the accident, and they stubled around in the woods the police had already combed over, looking for... something. And they didn't realize they'd found it until it opened up before them with the crackle of electricity: a shimmering, blue moongate.

They looked at one another for a good long moment, and then joined hands as they stepped into the light...

------------------------------------------------------------

Five years would pass before they found their way home. But when they did, they bore with them the skills and the magic they had learned in that far off realm. They returned not as Ian Mac Hugh and Angel Hart, but as "Sunsword and Goldynhart."


(OOC: Obviously, I'm referencing "another" online game here, although the names have been changed a bit... well, after spending 5 years there, I decided it made sense to weave together my past with my present, with a smattering of the real life people behind the characters, to form a continuing storyline using one "family" of characters. "Goldynhart" will be writing her own origin, which obviously weaves into this one, but she has a background all her own. Hope you enjoyed the tale.)

*focuses really hard and brings up a fire sword and throws it up ...... the fire sword falls on top and burns to death*

Ok this is an activity which was done in the old forums a long time ago so it goes this way here are the rules :1.Write the posters name and the way u wish to destroy him.2.sit back and let the killing begin. and you cant kill more then 5 people at a time preferably 1 per customer Enjoy!

Thats awesome!I like the pull my finger think boy that guy must of ate like 2 bowls of beans lol

This will most likely be quite long. A continuing project. Any feedback or suggestions as I go would be great . Hope you like it.

Jacob Phillips, known as "Cyberjack" to his friends on the internet, flits from site to site, downloading files and searching for knowledge. While not technically a hacker, he does know a few tricks of the trade. When not on the computer, the tall, lanky man in his mid-twenties is a student working on his Masters in Cybernetics. This particular foray through the world of cyberspace is a study of advanced cybernetics in hopes that he would find something to support his thesis, which was due in a week.

With increasing anxiety he begins to despair of ever finding a way to prove his theory that a limb could be completely enhanced cybernetically without it having to be amputated first. Or, in laymans terms, to encase a limb with cybernetic technoligy and still reap the benefits similar to one who had had a limb completely replaced. Sighing to himself, he pushes away from the computer and rubs his temples.

"This is no use." he mutters, then turns and shouts into student-office adjacent to his, "Hey Jim, I'm heading down to the cafeteria, you want anything?"

A dismisive grunt is his only answer, so he grabs his jacket and heads out into the hallway, turning towards the stairs in time to see four raggedly dressed men open the door to the cybernetics lab. "Hey!" he says, "you can't go in there!" Then, as they turn to him, he notices the incredible cybernetic enhancements each of them has. One, the leader presumably, has a gigantic robotic arm that looks incongruous with the rest of his body. Freakshow...the name shoots through Jacobs brain like a lightning bolt as his body goes cold with fear.

unfortunatly i was unaware that virtue was the unoficial rp server when i started the game, and i started my char on justice. Im now level 9, and dont feel like starting over, i hear theres few rpers opn virtue anyways. i just wanted to know if there is any other rpers on justice, if so please tell me, and we can team up, or start an sg.

Lesson #2 - Seek Balance

This is going to be one of the harder lessons to learn. Granted I gained some insight into the whole discretion thing (as previously mentioned), but putting it to practical use is an entirely different animal.

I cannot speak for the rest of my Defender brothers and sisters, but for me, there is nothing more heart-wrenching than to see the impact that a battle-gone-south has on my teammates. When I sense the life going out of multiple members far too fast for me to counter effectively, it both strikes me down with a severe sense of helplessness, and a fury that I have never before known.

This is possibly why I awoke in a hospital today. Flame, Wyngarde, Hyper, and Tony (teleportation is a great power, by the way!) and I went out to take care of some business involving the robotic kind, and it was not a pretty picture. Deep into the mission, we got mobbed in a way that was downright scary. The damage wasn't dealt upon us - it washed over us like an ocean.

I believe Wyngarde went down first (funny how details of a battle are lost upon us). I went by his side, calling for the others to draw off the enemy, which I remember saying they were. But there were too many of them. Sprockets, Cogs, Telsa Knights, some big thing I've never seen before, and a few humans - they were all over the place, and a good portion of them were overrunning my position.

I should've bolted! The Heavens know I wasn't skilled in those essential ways to survive a point-blank barroom brawl. But I couldn't bring myself to it, not with a comrade laying there, inert and helpless. Whoever it was I was trying to protect, I was going beat off the enemy, or die trying. My powers proved almost useless, sapping little energy if they hit at all. I didn't care; I was committed to fighting until either they were gone, or I was.

I hope I figure out rather soon how to strike that balance. As of last night, I was invited to join a Superhero Group (Vangard), and last thing I want to do is to disappoint. The dilemma of being an Empathy Defender...

Sometimes I wish I took up botany.

Yi

Meanwhile, at the Yellow Line station in Steel Canyon...

Cyberjack stands at the rail of the station platform taking his first look out over the skyscrapers of Steel Canyon. Off in the distance he can make out a massive statue dedicated to yet another fallen hero. Vaguely he remembers that at some point in the past that would have moved him to some kind of emotion, but no more, not since the incident in the cybernetics lab had left him the way it had...with a robotic cybernetically enhanced arm and eye. A skin tight blue bodysuit covers his human flesh, while his cybernetic parts glint a deep bronze.

His visor, which hides most of his face, periodically updates those figures moving about on the sidewalks below him. Warning blips flash over figures that have hidden weapons or questionable technology on them. About a block away he picks up signs of a struggle, two thugs are assaulting an elderly man. Even at this distance he evaluates the villians and accesses the Paragon City computers who confirm his guess. The thugs fit the profile of those who belong to a gang called the "Outcasts."

Turning, he jogs down the ramp and then becomes a blur of motion as he speeds to the altercation at amazing velocity. Breaking suddenly, he raises his cybernetic arm and a projectile of pure cold lances out to strike the first Outcast in the chest. The man goes into shock, his movements become slow..sluggish. Turning to the second man a swirl of freezing energy again shoots out to wrap the thug in ice, immobile. Turning back to the first again he releases another bolt of ice which shatters against his target, who slumps to the ground unconscoius.

Before he could turn back to the immobilized villian an immense bolt of electricity slams into Cyberjack from behind, convulsing his muscles and sending his visors display into chaos. Falling to his knees with a cry, he turns, trying to get his bearings. Another bolt cascades around the fallen hero, causing him to writhe in pain....

My my, giving up so easily?

I've had the opposite experience, why just today I teamed up with four other Rpers I found roaming around and we hunted down CoTs. We all Rped the whole time, except for in team chat which we used for stuff like "need to pee!" or "damn phone!", stuff like that.

First of all, even as an RPer I NEVER Rp on broadcast. Just because WE deem Virtue as the unofficial RP server doesn't mean everyone is going to know that. There are lots of players who never even visit these forums. Also, sometimes it's nice to talk in OOC a little. If you ask me BOTH forms of playing the game get old after a while and switching them up is a good idea.

I'm happy with Virtue, it's getting better connectivity-wise for me and I've found a whole bunch of Rpers.

Maybe you're just looking in the wrong places.

Bah! I'm DONE with this server! I really should have known better, too. None of these "unofficial" RP servers ever work, anyway. I mean, EQ even went so far as to title a server "RP Perferred" with special rules, and that didn't work.

Today, I asked a question in the Broadcast channel in character. Normally, I don't use the BC channel since it is RP taboo, but no one was near me to answer what i needed to know. Immediately after the answer, someone typed "boy, do i hate RPers". Right after that someone chimed, "me too". That was the last straw. I went ooc and asked the person why they would make a character on a server that the players deemed as their unofficial home to RP in, and then [censored] when they did it. Boom! The gates opened to a flame-fest that I've seen too many times on this server. RPers vs. non-RPers. Wanna know what the funny thing is? The non- RPers were drowning out RPers like 3 to 1.

So, after a few minutes of wasting my time in a non-winnable argument, I've decided that playing on a server that has as many latency issues as this one just isn't for me. (Today was particularly bad with a few actual disconects which has never happened to me.) I'll be moving to one of the less crowded servers and to hell with the RP. I'll be leaving my chars here in case things change, but I don't see that happening. Yes, I have level 20 chars I will be leaving. Unlike others, I have no fears about starting over. Its a chance to redo the things you've done wrong, anyway. I'd like to wish my RP brethren good luck. Unfortunately, you're not going to get the experience you were hoping for...we ALL were hoping for in beta.

When you have spent much of your life experimenting, practicing various dark arts, and slicing open cadavers a lot of people will tend to think you freakish.
Yet more people will think you some sort of deviant, but what do the very corpses you have experimented on think?
As a long time reanimator of dead tissue, survivor of several undead plagues, and quite the number of cat attacks I can tell you that the very things you create will try to destroy you.
And as such I have fled the confines of the Miskatonic Medical School where I spent so much time in the past in the hopes that my damnable creations will not follow me to such a hero prevalent city.
Therefore anyone in need of surgical assistance, casual conversation on the theories of reanimation or just a cheerleader as you uhhh trash evil... please let me know.

Dr Herbert West. (Citizen of Pinnacle)

http://www.vertexgaming.com/pictures/biomen.jpg

Found out today that word is spreading about my special abilities. Believe me, they're anything but special. I'm just a dime a dozen in this city, doing my part like everyone else. Still, it is nice to be noticed.

Learned a very valuable lesson - discretion, in the long run, can be a life saver. I've never been one to run from a fight, especially when my team is counting on me. In a temp alliance, three fellow heroes (Andrew Seal, Venge, and Blacktalon) and I took on forces deep in the caves. At one point, we got ourselves in deep, and were way in over our heads. Eventually, the superior firepoewr arrayed against us took its toll. Blackie went first... as for the other two, I can't recall the order of defeat.

I plunged into the melee, intent on trying to pull them out with my limited firepower. "To h*%l with this!" my mind screamed. They need me! Then out of the darkness, a one of the surviving teammembers called to me.

"Doc! Can you rez yourself?!"

"No!' I answered truthfully. And at that point, I could care less - I had to help them!

His reply hit me like a thunderclap. "THEN RUN!!!"

It took a moment to register, but I realized that the order was completely in the interests of the team. If I was dead, how could I tend to the others when the fighting died down? I took off down the caves, doing everything I could to shake my foes until I was finally safe.

It wasn't until I returned that it all came full circle. There were my comrades, down and for the count, but fortunately not too far gone. I laid my hands on each, bringing them back from the brink. Debt notwithstanding, the damage of heeding the sage advice was zero - my team was back, and it was my heeding discretion that had saved them.

I've seriously have got to keep this in mind on future conflicts. My job is a healer, not a scapper/blaster. I've got to live the role life has given me.

Yi

May 1st
Who would have thought that when I made it to The Show it would be the fight against Evil instead of the Majors? One minute my friend Heath is darin' me to come inside on him with my split finger, the next he is laying there unconcious, blue energy still crisscrossing his shattered jaw.
I understand why the Paragon Pirates had to let me go, you can't have a pitcher blowing batters' heads off. I was surprised that Heath doesn't hate my guts, he may not get to play at all this coming season, or for that matter......ever again.
May 2nd
Well one thing is for sure, the glut of heroes in he city has made getting a costume easy, the funky red and yellow number I got for 50% off at Mable's Capes and Tights helped out a lot. I still have plenty of money left from my signing bonus the Red's paid me for being their number one draft pick, thenk God they didn't ask for that back! Probably afraid I would blow up the head office.
Oh yeah, yesterday I met with some local law enforcement and instead of laughing at me they encouraged me, even helped me learn how to work with my rapidly growing array of powers. Mom, you would be so proud of me, had those ******* Rikiti not taken you from me.... well I know you are still smiling on me. Mom, did Dad have powers? You never talked about him and well, I wish I knew him now, I feel so damn alone.
Oh I almost forgot, I have made it to Security Clearance Level 5 already! Soon one of the local groups may take notice of me, I don't shirk my duties and I fight well. I just need to stay out of the hospital...... the one nurse is cute and all, but three trips can make you a little tired of gowns that don't tie very well in the back!

Outlaw Bondage.

Several years before the Rikti invasion, Miles Everet had a good life. He was a top member of the Hellions gang, he had a beautiful wife, and he couldn't of asked for more money.

It all changed with a single job.

Miles' job was to crack locks... it was his talent. He had been blessed with great hearing abilities and his boss knew that, so he was always the one to get them in.

The target this time was Crey Industries. MacReady, the man that Miles' had given his loyalty to, had informed them that inside were chemicals needed to get stronger than they were. In order to deal with the heroes, they had to become super powered themselves.

"Alright, ready." Miles motioned for his friends to enter the building when he opened the door. They entered, four of them total. The room was dark.

"Hey, who has a flare?" Ricki, a good friend and Brawler asked. Suddenly lights hit them and there was no need for a flare. "What is this?!"

Miles, after his eyes adjusted, realized they were surrounded. A man stepped up. He was obviously the leader, he wore a cocky smirk.

"Look at you four. A dying breed, you are. The Hellions will be eradicated soon enough... thanks to our help."

A look of surprise passed over their faces as MacReady stepped forward from the shadows.

"How's it going guys? Yeah, sorry about this, they're just offering me way to much to pass it up, ya know? No hard feelings, right? And don't worry Miles.. I'll take good care of your wife."

"You son of a bi-" suddenly Miles was shot in the shoulder, he spun and landed on his stomach.

It would be impossible for MacReady to of not felt the stares burning into him. He waved, smiled, then walked back into the shadows. The leader of the Crey soldiers followed after him.

"Kill them."

Suddenly fire. Then black. Deep black. Little did Miles know that that night would be the last time he would see the world through his eyes. He was lucky to escape with his life...

He could feel, that was good enough for the present time. A scream escaped his lips.

"ARGGGH! WHERE AM I?!?!" Suddenly there was a hand on his forehead, a gentle touch.

"Shh.. you're in the hospital."

The nurse explained to him what had happened. An explosion caused by a grenade sent him flying out of a window and into the street. His friends were killed instantly. If it hadn't been for his natural abilities to withstand pain, he would have been dead too.

All of it sunk in. He realized what he had to do.

-Three years later-

Living alone in a secluded house outside of Paragon city, Miles knew his way around without having to use his eyes. He could feel a wall before he ran in to it, he could sense where objects were, therefore allowing him to move quickly wherever he wanted to go.

He discovered that his anger triggered an interesting response; dark powerse emitted from his hands. He couldn't see it, but he felt the evil rising.

What was his goal? Why was he still alive? He knew, after years of meditation and training, that he'd have his vengence.

-Two years later-

He had now mastered his movements. He could go in to town and conduct his business with the few he trusted; he could control the powers that were coming to him.

Little did he know that his powers would be put to the test... but an alien force. On his way home one fateful day, mother ships appeared over paragon city...

-Several months later-

There was no way he could have won against such a force. He fought as many as he could and escaped to his house. He had no ties with any of those left to die at the hands of the aliens, so it really didn't hurt him.

The only person he wanted to still be alive was MacReady.

Those years spent alone left him to think of clever ways of torturing the man that did this to him. Caused him to lose everything.

Vengence is his driving force... he dawned the name Outlaw Bondage, for he is a force outside the law, bound by sight.

Nicely done..but I wasn't in there! Whats wrong with you!!

Very impressive.

K

Banished from the Netherworld and sent onto Virtue as punishment, Qora must now prove herself worthy of a return.

Her trial begins.

I guess I missed the Crow guy.... (one of my all time favorite movies)

But man, that was excellent! Good use of the Kill Bill soundtrack! hehe

-<Intelligence Tag: #1>-
-<Subject: Marissa Yi>-

Note to self: Keep tabs on Dr. Yi. Excellent healer who, from initial observance, appears to be true of heart. Add to list of allies. Seek assistance from Dr. Yi with Rikti investigation.

-<End Intelligence Tag>-

Prologue:

Earth is rampant. It is the epicenter of chaos throughout the cosmos.

Something must be done.

It has heroes, each master of a single archetype, none master of all. They have banded together to stop the Rikti threat.

Insufficient. Without one who controls ALL of the archetypes, the Rikti will succeed.

With the power of Earth quelled, they will come after Khenala next.

Something must be done.

Well, there may be...one...we can send...

[b]The S-Rank agent. Seal. Andrew Seal.[b]

He is the best we have.

The let us send him. The hope of Khenala, and the hope of Earth depend on his success.

It shall be done.

- - - - -

-<Plotting Transdimensional Transport>-
-<Leaving From: Khenala Prime, Nth Dimension>-
-<Destination: Earth, Cryptic Sector, 3rd Dimension>-
-<Commencing Transport>-



-<Transport Complete>-

- - - - -

Andrew Seal stood up, groggy from the transport. He quickly looked around, immediately scanning the area for hostiles as he had been taught since he was young, and reaching for his communicator.

"Seal to Order Command."

"This is Command. What is your status?

"I have arrived, apparently, in Paragon City. I am somewhat weakened from the transport, it may take me some time to regain my strength."

Acknowledged. Your immediate orders are to assist the Heroes of Earth while gathering information on the Rikti invasion. The Rikti must be stopped at all costs."

"Understood. Will contact and advise of situation when needed. Seal out."

He placed the communicator away once more. Well, this is it., he thought to himself. It was a planned long term assignment. Better get comfortable.

Excellent Movie!

Hooray, Top movie Mr Wire!

Miles Jacob had a good life, before the Rikti that is. He sat on the steps in front of Miss Liberty, silently envying the Hero's lives. "Bastards, you've got it so good and none of you seem to care...." Filled with bitterness, he stood up and walked away.

Later that night, he walked the streets of Kings Row, wondering where his next meal would come from. Hearing shouting down an alleyway, he slowly sneaked in that direction. He was greeted by the sight of three dark men in robes, performing a ritual. A ghastly green glow was emanating from the middle of them, encasing what looked like a well to do businessman. Screaming, the man was calling for help. A blur came shooting out of another alley, tearing into the robed figures, a silver clad hero materialized, taunting the evil men as he broke up their circle, and their determination. Fleeing in three different directions, the hero grimaced, chose a target, and shot after him. In the confusion, the businessman was forgotten, as was the case with most so called "rescues". Looking about, Miles slowly crept over to the dieing man. "Help me...", he begged pitifully.

"Help yourself, that's how it is now...", Miles reached down, ruffling through the mans pockets, he took his wallet and ran. He kept up the pace for about five minutes, until he collapsed by a dumpster, sobbing. "Is this truely what I've become? Is their even a point left?" Looking through the wallet with tear stained eyes, he took the cash, threw away the wallet and dropped his head in his hands, sobbing pitifully.

A whistling sound was his only warning as a figure from his nightmares crashed to the ground in front of him.

It stood roughly six foot tall, clad in medieval style armor, buckled leather boots, and a cowl hiding the bottom of his face so that only his blazing red eyes, short red hair, and horns, curving from his temples down and towards the front of his face, as if he was sighting Miles down with them, as if they were piercing his soul. Immobilized by fright, Miles could only watch as the demon, for that was what he surely was, reached down and clasped his collar. Without effort, the being slowly rose, Miles firmly in hand, until they were far above the streets.

"You are not destined for my Fathers embrace mortal...... yet....", With that, the demon let go. As the wind rushed by, images from his life played out in his mind, as did the hell that certainly awaited him. As he watched the ground rush up to meet him, he prayed to God to forgive him.

Miles groaned as he awoke, squinting his eyes against the harsh sunlight. Looking about, he realized he was still in the alley. As his eyes fell on a wallet laying by his feet, he slowly remembered last nights events. Fingering the wallet, and the drivers license in it, he grew somber. Rising from the floor, he noticed footprints burned into the ground. As his smile grew, he turned and ran in the direction of the address on the license. By the time he hit the street, the smile had turned to carefree laughter.

Miles Jacob had a good life, and it was only getting better.

<<I'll post an actual background once I get completely done with it. This is just an introduction for Ganryusan, my fire/fire blaster. If your on Virtue, look him up. He'll gladly send people to hell with anyone. >>

lol